They discovered this by taking photos of the boulder's deposits along the coast and using GPS technology to map their positions. When they returned to the area after the storms, they were able to determine which rocks had been moved.

The scientists measured 1,152 of the large rocks from various spots on Ireland's coast to map the ties between the size of the boulder and its topographic location, such as its height above sea level or how far inland it traveled, according to a release on the findings.

Boulders were moved nearly 100 feet above high waters and about 730 feet inland, the researchers reported. Among the rocks moved, 18 of them weighed over 50 tons and six were heavier than 100 tons. The largest that was moved weighed in at 620 tons.

The waves created by the storms not only shifted the boulders but also created new ones by tearing them from the bedrock on the coast, states the release.

Previously, researchers believed only tsunamis could move the boulders due to their weight and distance from the shoreline.

This new research is helping other scientists understand the waves' full force, which will become more important as temperatures continue to warm worldwide. This new information could help policymakers and engineers improve the resilience of coasts.

Williams College Professor of Geoscience and study lead author Rónadh Cox says it's likely larger rocks will be moved by larger storms in the future.

“The more intense the storms, the higher the wave energies, so the likelihood of these stronger wave energies hitting in other places becomes greater, as well,” Cox told the Washington Post. “So I think understanding the dynamics of these deposits in these remote areas is going to matter more as energy levels on coastlines around the world tend to increase.”

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.